Discharging-electrode and method of forming the same.



F. w. STEERB. DISCHARGING ELECTRODE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 10, 1914.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

IIIIIIIIIIEIIIIIJ STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK w. STEEBE; OI DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ABSIGNOR '10 SEHET-S OLVAYCOIYANY, OF SOLVAY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 01' PENNSYLVANILSpecification at Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Application filed June 10, 1914. Serial No. 844,226.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. STEERE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, m the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Discharging-Electrodesand Methods of Forming the Same, of which the following is aspecification.

As is well known when one of the terminals of an electric currentgenerator is connected to an electrode provided with fine points andlocated in operative relation to an electrode having a smooth surfaceconnected to the other terminal of the generator and current ofsufiiciently high voltage is generated a silent or brush discharge isgiven off from the points. Such a discharge is utilized in effecting thedeposition of suspended matter from flue gases, in the manufacture ofozone, etc. Heretofore, a surface rovided with metallic points has beenused or this purpose, and also filamentary substances suchas asbestos orthe fibers of cotton or other threads. In the application of an electricdischarge to theseparation of tar from those gases, such as coke ovengas, in which it is carried in suspension, certain difficulties areexperienced in the use of such pointed surfaces as have heretofore beenemployed, such as metallic points or asbestos, cotton or other fibers,since the former are attacked and destroyed by the acids carried in thegas, while the latter lose their efliciency by becoming matted togetherby the tar adherin thereto.

The object o my improvement is to obviate these difficulties and providean electrode of this class which shall have an etficient dischargingsurface, which shall be durable and not subject to change, nor affectedby acids carried in the gas.

To this end my invention broadly stated consists in forming theoperative body of the electrode of coke, having a surface studded withfine projecting points. Such an electrode I have found most efiicient inproducing a brush discharge, while at the same time the dischargingvpoints retain their individuality and are not affected by gas contentsof any nature. v

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate an electrode made in accordance therewith andalso a preferred method of forming such an electrode.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates the method of construction, showinga cross section of a mufile, in which the electrode sheets are formed,containing powdered coal and sheets of woven wire. Fig. 2 shows acompleted electrode sheet having a surface of coke, partially brokenaway to show the wire base. Fig. 3 shows a section of an electrodesheet, on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, and Fig. 1s a similar view on anenlarged scale showing the penetration of the woven wire base by thecoke;Fig. 5 shows an elevation partly in section of a completedelectrode having the electrode sheets mounted on a su portlng core.

.n carrying my invention into eflect, I preferably employ the followingmethod for forming coke surfaces provided with fine dischargin pointssuitable for use as electrodes Re erring to the drawings, A, indicates amuflle having separably connected walls of. suitable material, as metal.The muflle, A, I fill with granulated coking coal, B, within which areembedded several sheets, C, of flexible perforated material such aswoven wire, each of which is separated from those above and below it bya layer of the coal. The body of coal should consist of granules ofsubstantially uniform size, preferably such as will pass through ascreen of one-eighth inch mesh, but not through one-sixteenth inch mesh,21. e.,somewhat larger than the mesh of the woven wire sheets. Thefilled and closed mufiie is then subjected to a coking heat in a closedfurnace until the coal is converted into cellular coke. When the cokingis completed the mufile, A, is removed from the furnace and opened andthe sheets of woven wire are pulled apart. In the process of coking thecoke is forced into and through the interstices in the wire as shown inFig.4, so that, when the sheets are separated each is found covered witha coating of coke, D, securely adhering thereto and presentinginnumerable fine points, (Z, of substantially uniform length. The sheetsthus formed possess a considerable degree of flexibility and can be bentinto a circular form without disruption of the coke. The coke electrodesheets are preferably mounted for use upon a cylindrical core, E, formedof wood or other suitable material to which they are secured, as bybeing nailed thereto. Preferably the core, E, is provided withcircumferential ribs, eye, which assist in supporting the coke-sheets'andat the same time form distance between all parts of the operativesurface of the discharging electrode and the receiving electrode. Incase the core, E, is made of non-conducting material, as wood, aconductor, F, is provided lying between the core, E, and the electrodesheets, D, and in contact with the latter whereby they are connectedwith the source of current. With such an electrode I am able to effect,a powerful and uniform brush discharge withoutthe formation ofdisruptive arcs and with efiicient utilization of the applied current.While for these reasons they are generally applicable in any case Whereit is desired to utilize a brush electric discharge they areparticularly desirable in the application of such a discharge to effectthe separation of tar from tar carrying gases, since the coke is notaffected by the destructive acids usually present in such gases nor dothe discharging points lose their efficiency by reason of any deposit oftar thereon.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A discharging electrode having a body of coke provided withdischarging points.

2. A discharging electrode of coke having"- forated metal base, and abody of coke secared to said base and having a surfacepresentingdischarging points.

4. An electrode comprising a supportin core and a surface of cokesecured to sai core and having superficial discharging points.

5. An electrode comprising a supporting core provided withcircumferential ribs and a surface of coke secured to the core betweensaid ribs and having superficial discharging points. 1

6. The process of forming electrode surfaces with discharging pointswhich consists in embeddin flexible perforated sheets of non-combusti 1ematerial in powdered coal in a closed muffle, subjecting the same to acokin temperature until the coal is coked and nally separating saidsheets.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, this 2d day ofJune A. D. 1914.

' FRANK W. STEERE. Witnesses:

PETER B. KOEBEL, JOHN M. HAs'rINGs, Jr.

